New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-14
ART NEWS AND COMMENTS
THE WEEK In ART CIRCLES.

NOTES ON AMERICAN ARr-SALEs AT THE wArrp
COLOR ExHIBITIoN-ART NEWS ELSEWHERE
Although there was exhibition OF paintings Al
the recent meeting OF the Union League Club, tho
occasion was one OF exceptional importance IN its bear
ing upon American art. This club contains MANY
collectors. 1t has held exhibitions OF foreign art to
which paintings of impressive quality have been con.
tributed by members and from outside collections.
These exhibitions have been valuable, and vet mora
evidence to the merits OF the painters
| was hardly needed. On the other hand there has
been and need Of demonstrating to the very class
Of art levers who belong to this club the sor nd
OF the best American work. Within year especial
efforts have been made in the interests OF good Amer-
has held we'll exhibitions OF American pictures
and has also exhibited them upon equal terms with
tore, n work. This, of course, has been done before
but OF late the American pictures have been selected
with especial care and given deserved prominence
| in tho way. while the clubs general influence
has always favored American art the remarks OF tho
especially significant aud emphatic, THE TRIBUNE
has said. Mr. Depew earnestly urged that it was tho
principle. the duty the pleasure the opportunity of
suggested as the lining of the walls OF the
club with the mertorous works of American
artists. He declared that, while an American
paratiyely Insignificant prices, by crossing the
Atlantic and prefxlng an 90" or afixng an ii" TO
his name he could get ten times much. Mr. Depew
has good to American art. 1t is unfort-
unately true that many collectors, either from in
difference prejudice, pay attention American
pictures and their unfavorabe impression not likely
to be dspelled by such miscellaneous, ilarranged
exhibitions have been sometimes ut the
Academy. The Union League Club furnishes an
invaluable opportunity OF placing strong American
work before collectors whose influence II enlisted
will do much toward securing adequate appreciation
tor mertcrOus American art. Fashion has great
deal to do with picture buying, and the position
formally taken by tho Union League Club gives
American art powerful friend. The TRIBUNE has
frequently welt upon the Disadvantages under which
Am, arfiaf lain han ed nsf
fashion of awarding commissioning whether for his
torical or portrait to interior foreign painters
What TIE TRIBUNE has said has had effect, as
various actual results and several communications have
abundantly shown. Bad art anywhere is TO be depre-
Gated, but what American artists deserve and what
The TRIBUNE proposes that they shall have is fair
and open chance on their merits.
One point will be gained which will inure to tho
comfort of collectors If they interest themselves in
American pictures, and that will be comfortable
certainty the authenticity of their paintings,
sheraton which in view OF recent events should have
especial weight. year or two since a card was pub.
lished headed Thoughts Tor Buyers OF Foreign
Pctures Under this heading appeared the folio wing
Picture counterfeng is becoming as great an art as
painting itself. curious study upon this subject.
due to the pen OF NJ Nertan, shows that the number
OF copies disposed OF originals is quite astonishing
There is one artist. he says, living IN the Latin
dealers with limitations OF Leonardo da Nnc, Eur
baran and other masters. turning to the sales at tho
Hotel Drouot the writer that an average there
are put up tor sale every year 200 Daubgnys, 500
Leopold Roberts, 1000 Troyons, 5000 Corots, 1000
Theodore Rosseaus, 1,oOO Rosa Bonheurs, 400
DIazes, and 50 He declares that 10000 Daubignys
exist at present and he exp esses his opinion that
century hen,e there will be million" The precise
figures may be matter of opinion but without accept
ng those OF NJ Veran the fact remains that wholesale
forgery of paintings has become a source Of danger to
collectors. Every one knows that Corot and Daz
tor example, were most prolific painters, but IT it
could be ascerained how many paintings attributed to
these artists in existence in this country or eveR
within ten miles of the City Hall, the total would
stagger the credulous. The manufacture or
Curos Diazes Ousseaus etc, In Belgium and In PARIS
was carried extensively that SOME time since the
leading experts OF Paris proposed the formation OF o
jury to examine and certify paintings and tue pron
artists and amateurs OF the city peoned for and
obtained special legislation to prevent or at least
severely punish these frauds. The ways Of picture
buyers are past finding out especially when the ele-
ment of competition and rivalry OF bank accounts
into the cass and it has long since been shown
Is no proof OF its authenticity merit. The merit of
o picture Is the POINT which should be considered
regardless of the name, but perhaps 1t Is easier TO con-
slider alone, even though their aseripticn
requires all possible support from the KIND OF docu
mentary and verbal evidence which is Invariably forth
coming in the OF dubious pictures from old mas
tiers down to Corots.
The French efforts to check picture forgery seem to
have been inadequate in at least, according
to the following story. Some time since American
walking in the Rue Scribe noticed Diaz in shop
window He admired It, entered and asked some
a. estions little later he returned and missing the
picture entered again to ask tor IT, Monsieur the
shopkeeper was absent. Madame suggested that the
picture might be among several unframed canvases
which stood against the WALL aod invited the visitor
TO look tor himself. tie turned the first. 1t
apparently another Diaz but its appearance
prisngly fresh lie looked at the second. Ii was an
copy OF the first. The third as the same and
continuing with a laudable desire tor knowledge he
discovered sA eight pictures exactly alike and
oil signed n. d. Without betraying anv surprise
he asked Madame tho painters name and she replied:
They were painted by young artist whom my hus-
band employs and he has Just brought them in" OF
course it would be pleasant to bel eve that these
pictures to be sold as the work OF the young
artist. But the visitor thought otherwise.
No one who has followed the Of Munkacsys
Christ before Plate SURF rsed 20 learn that it
is finally to be exhibited rather used Ia connection
with dry goods store. Tho picture conceived
and executed in a commercial spirit and its history
has been of shrewd speculative manipulation,
which, however, overreacned itself in this city. Al
present the interesting point not whether the exhi
bltion here has proved comparative faiure despite
the extraordinary announcements OF the num0er 81
visitors and the number OF pictures sold as side
issue or whether the durability this bitumen laden
painting is doubtful. but whether there is to be
recorded larger payment OF duties TO the Govefnen'
than has been made upon any work OF art before.
According to The Art Amateur" thus picture, after
having been offered tor sale in Paris at $1,000 al.
though that journa! is informed that mach less would
have been taken, declared at the Custom house
here to be worth $4,000 and was entered tor ex.
hibition pu poses only Public announcements OF
prices viii be taken with many allowances, but even II
the big Munkacsy and other pictures we're Jumped tor
300 OOO and even IL duties only be collected on
the alleged original cost of the picture 1t is interesting
to observe the stimulating effect of the tree American
air ut the pictures value soon rs 1t was beyond
the Custom House.
In the two weeks since the Water Color Exhibition
opeued over 5000 admission tickets have been sold.
and the large attendance every day OF reasonable
weather has abundantly attested the popularity of
water-colors The sales amount to nearly $4,000.
The pictures sold tor $50 aud over in the course OF
IN. Last weak are Fashions Favorite, NJ. +. Peck,
SIl5; Ease Er a Dit" +. :. CozzeEs, 500; Horse
Artillery I. de Thustrup; 81 000i The Lake.; A:
T. Bricher $50; The Old Mil" Henry Farrer' $iV0i
The Favorite Prints +. c. Jones, 800; October
Afternoon" J. f. Murphy, $50; Priscilla J. SYM
ington, s75 " New-England Coast T. H. DE Haas